Orthopedic device



Sept. 18, 1951 M. T. LAFFIN 2,568,197

ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE Filed June 20, 1949 I N VEN TOR.

Mar' aTLQ JZZZy,

Patented Sept. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE Maria Laflin, North Hollywood, Calif. Application June 20, 1949, Serial No. 100,191

The invention relates to an. upper lip supporter, and more especially to a mouth applicator for bracing the upper lip of a person for eliminating deformities in the outward appearance, orexpression to the mouth.

In the course of human life, due to nervous strains and mental stressesimposedon. the person, especially during early and middle ages, it

being a habit for such a person, either while sleeping or awake, when under tense moments to tighten the upper lip of the mouth or cause it to pucker, contract or otherwise become distorted from normalcy, and if this condition continues periodically or otherwise the upper lip permanently acquires Wrinkles or outer skin lines or a drawn expression which becomes set and thus the normal expression of the mouth becomes'disfigured and contracted from the natural com posure, especially of the female with resultant disturbance to the beautifying appearance of the person.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an applicator of the character named, wherein the foregoing habit and resultant affects will be resisted and relieved so'that the upper lip of the mouth under the use of the said applicator will retain a natural composure, irrespective of the stresses and strains during tense moments, thus assuring firmness to the lip and without puckering, wrinkling, contracting or otherwise deformation to the said lip resultant in maintaining a passive appearance or expression of the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an applicator of this character, wherein the inherent quality of its make-up will not injure the membranes or inner walls of the upper lip, the area adjacent to the latter and the upper jaw gum or the teeth, it conforming to the area A further object of the invention is the provision of an applicator of this character, wherein when it is worn there will be no interference with speech, eating, drinking etc., and it will anchor itself in place without fasteners or the like, as

the said applicator is held firmly and comfortably between the upper lip and jaw by vacuumindentations, so that it will not drop, slip or become displaced while in the mouth of a user.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an applicator of this character, wherein it is partially pervious to a medicament,

antiseptic solution, breath purifier, or other mouth freshing liquids, and avoids accumulation of saliva, germ breeding and other unsanitary conditions in the mouth, thus rendering it healthy. I

A still further objectof the invention is the provision of an applicator of this character, wherein it can be readily and conveniently cleaned and may be placed in and removed from the mouth with ease and dispatch.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an applicator of this character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and effective in purpose, strong, durable, light in weight, it being concealed from view while being worn, and is devoid of detracting from the normalexpression or displeasing appearance to the mouth, as well as susceptible of manufacture at a minimum expense, either by special order or custom-make.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiments of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended. It is to be understood that changes, vari ations and modificatons may be made in the invention, as fall properly within the scope of the annexed claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a partial diagrammatic side elevation of a human head showing the applicator constructed in accordance with the invention associated therewith and in wearing position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the applicator removed from the mouth of the head.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the applicator.

Figure 4 is a lowermost edge view of the same. -Figure 5 isa fragmentary sectional view taken approximately of the line 55 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows and of slightly larger scale.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing a slight modification.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally the mouth applicator or upper lip support constituting the present invention and involves a membranous element which may be formed of a somewhat flexible, resilient and preferably elastic material or materials. Sponge rubber has been found highly satisfactory, yet it may be made from fibrous material, such for example as cotton, bat or any suitable material that will satisfy the demands of the applicator fastening means is employed with the element II or support in the use thereof for the purposes into assure against displacement of the latter when tended of the same. This element denoted at ll] placed between the upper lip and the opposed may be or is initially curved to correspond apupper jaw and the corrective action of this eleproximately to the external or labial curvature .5 ment I is markedly a persuasive rather than a of the dental arches, and in the illustrated examcoercive one, the pockets or cups l3 and I4, with ple it is further provided with impressions ll corthe notch [5 being double assurance against responding in size and disposition to the fore nordisplacement.

mal maxilla teeth, these impressions ll being The element l0 when applied in the mouth located at the free lowermost edge l2 of the said of a user as hereinbefore described will resist the element I0 and intersect such edge to partially contracting, puckering or otherwise distortion overlie that area next to the gum at the meetof the upper lip from a normal condition, which ing of the latter with the upper teeth and conoccurs during tense moments, and in this manner tacts against the outer surfaces of the same. The avoids the said upper lip permanently acquiring formation of the element l0 may be satisfactorily wrinkles or outer skin lines or a drawn expresaccomplished by depositing latex directly into a sion which becomes set and thus the normal mold, preferably under pressure to insure evencomposure of the mouth will have become disness of texture, yet this element may be otherfigured. Therefore, the applicatorA constructed wise created to accord with the structural makein accordance with the invention will brace the up of the applicator or support constituting the upp p of a person for eliminating deformities present invention, as hereinafter further dein the outward appearance or expression f the scribed in detail. mouth.

The element in one instance has provided in What is claimed is:

one surface following the longitudinal extent 1. An orthopedic device for removable mountthereof a plurality of spaced indentations formi g in a mouth o a patient between an pp r p ing vacuum pockets or cups 13, which are upper teeth and upper gum, respectively, comadapted to operatively hold the element in the prising: a flexible and resilient membranous liqspace between the upper jaw and the upper lip uid absorbent element forming a pad-like body and following the dental arch of the wearer, of a depth and width sufficient to cover the entire while the impressions H having contact with 3 f o l a between the pp p and dental the teeth of the upper jaw further serve to hold arch f the pp gum with the lowermost p01- and prevent slipping of the element downwardly tiOn y partially r pp the pp teeth from between the said upper lip and jaw. In for exposing freely the biting edges of the latter,

another instance the pockets or cups M will be the Said lowermost p o of the y being P present in the outer surface of the element 10, as Vided With a formation of a Contour Conforming shown in Figure 6 of the drawing, and these serve to normal maxilla teeth and gum at p in s ad the same purpose as the pockets or cups l3 before cent to each other, and means on said element for described. attaching said element to the upper gum of the In Figures 1 and 5 of the drawing it will be wearer, said element having a smooth film covernoted that in the illustrated instances the maxiing, forming the p engaging portion thereof. mum portion of the element In is disposed An orthopedic device for mounting in it against labial side of the upper jaw above the mouth of a patient between an upper u p teeth and with slight overlap of the latter and teeth and pp r respectively, mpri i a resiliently held ther a in t owing t t inherflexible and resilient membranous liquid absorbent resilience of the element l0 itself, the latter ent element forming a pad-like body of a depth being provided it a t 1 notch 5 t avoid and width sufficient to cover the entire frontal interference with the fraenum which extends area n the upper lip and dental arch of medially b t t upper lip and gum f t the upper gum with the lowermost portion only wearer, and this functions to prevent lateral Partially overlapping the upper teeth for exposcreeping of th element In in th mouth during 9 ing freely the biting edges of the latter, the said its use, lowermost portion of the bod being provided The element In by r as of t character or with a formation of a contour confronting the nature of the material from which the same is normal maxilla teeth and gum at points e t made is susceptible of slight absorption quality, to each other, a central notch formation at the so that it is partially pervious to a medicament, 5 upper edge of the bcdy for the fraenum medially antiseptic solutions, breath purifiers, or other between he upper lip and gum of a patient, the

mouth freshing liquids and avoids accumulation gum contacting portion of said body being proof sal germ breeding and unsanitary condi vlded with depressions to effect vacuum anchorti in th mouth, thus rendering it healthy ing action on the mouth areas next thereto, said It is preferable to have the element colored to element having a smc0th fi Covering, forming correspond to the tint of the natural gums of the the lip engaging portion thereofmou h so as to give a pleasing appearance both to AFFJN the latter and the said element III. This element MARIA T. L l l0 tniaylhave a icilm covering I 6 of any selected ma erla, so as 0 give smoothness thereto, the film covering l6 being disclosed in Figure 6, of g t 3i lf-ferences are of record m the the drawing, and such film need not overlie the p n cups or pockets l3 and [4, respectively, so that UNITED STATES PATENTS the absorption quality of the element need not be Number Name Date interfered with during the use of the said ele- 7 2,259,160 Glaser 14, 1941 ment In. It should be noted that no ex raneous 2, 3L I hiema n -.-a-.-=a-.= N 25, 194? REFERENCES CITED 

